Spring-tension regulator.



B. DYSART.

SPRING TENSION REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s, 190s;

973,641 Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

UNITED sums PATENT ermee.'

BmNEY DYsAnr, oF sT. Louis, MISSOURI, AssIGNoR. rro ADDING rrrnwm'rmn cou- PANY, or sT. Louis, MISSOURI, A coRroaATIoN or Missoula.

SPRING-TENSION REGULATOR.

To all whom it may concem: Y

Be it known that 1,'B1RNEY DYsAR'r, a citizen of the United States, residingat'St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a new and useful Spring-Tension Regulator, of which the followingV is a specification.-

'Ifhis inventionV relates to spring tension regulators of the type whereby thel tension of `helical springs lcanbe regulated to any desired extent without detaching the spring from its connections.

The object of the invention is to produce means for; use inconnection with helical l springs const-ituting the fastening means for y ing the windings of `the springs through the adjusting device.

one or both ends lof the springs and operable to draw out or compress the springs to any desired extent without removal or separation of the s rin s from their supports or connections, t ere y rendering it possible to adjust the springs to uniform tension or resistance while saidsprin' are attached to their supports, and to do sus without chang- Figute' 1` is -a view, partial y in section, showing the construction of the adjusting device and the method of its en agement with the s ring. VFig. 2 is a p an view thereof. Fi) 3 is an end view showing the springrotruding through the adjusting de- 'v1ce. ig. 4 shows another embodiment f the invent-ion including two springs of uhequal size, with means for increas' the tension of either of said springs, or oth, as desired. Fig. 5 is an end view Showing the smaller of the two springs tru'ding 'g. 6 is a perspective view of that adjusting device which is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and '3. Fig. 7 is a perspective illustration of the uniting element or coupling whereby the two s rings shown in Fi 4 are connected and wlich 1s capable of a justment with respect to either of said springs, or both at the same time, as

desired. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the adjustin device siown 1n connection with the sma l spring, being a modication of the device shown in Fig. 6.

, The helical spring 1 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) is 'of the retractile type and may be connected to one of the members with which it is used in any suitable way, such, for instance, as by a loop 2 engaging with some suitable part f J l Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 25, 1910.L Application led September 3, 19GB. Serial No. 451,666.

'this urpose is immaterial. Where only .one

of t e members with which the spring is used is movable vit is preferable that a connection of the lcharacter` described be with that member. The other member 4, which constitutes a support for the other end ofA the spring, carries a hanger 5 having a. notch 5l opening into a hole therein. A

plate, shaped to form a tubular part 6 of a diameter suicient to encircle the spring 1 and provided with a partially closed end, extends through the hole in the hanger 5, and has a flange 7 .bearing against said hanger. The device thus constituted is rovided with a polygonal head 8 formedp by upturned edges of the ange 7, alfording means for engagement for the rotation of the device.

A hole 9 is formed through the end of the Atubular part 6, of a size suliicient to per- -mit passage of the coils of the spring 1, the said end being indented, as shown atl() (Fi 6), to conform to the body and curve of t e coil, and constituting means to guide Sand direct the end of the spring properly through the hole in the primary assembling of the parts. yThat part of the end of the part 6 `againstwhich the coil of the s ring engages as it enters the hole 9 is swag outwardly., as shown at l11, to conform to the 'shape of the spring and assist in guiding the S. ring when the parts are'being connected).

The opening'of the notch 5 into the hole in the hanger 5" is sullicient to permit lpassage of an extended coil of the sprin l in lacing or removingthe connectmg evice groin the hanger. Connectionor detach ment may be effected by extending the spring and sliding the device 6 along the hanger and causing an extended coil of the s ring to pass through the opening from t e hole to the notch 5*. p y

The tubular part 6, constructed of plate metal substantially as shown and described,-

swaged portions ,10 and 11 and, inv further movement, rubbing against the smooth interior surface of the tubular part 6 which -holds the spring in proper position and prevents wavering or wiggling of the spring during its operation.

The parts having been assembled or confnected in this manner, the tension of the caused by turning or twisting the end of the spring to thread it in either direction `through. the hole 9 while the other end of the spring is in connection with the part 3.

These undesirable results and features are avoided by this construction in which the spring can be drawn out or 'compressed to any desired extent by either manually or instrumentally rotating the member 6 which, acting on the coils of the spring, produces the desired result. Being'o plate or sheet metal the member 6 can be produced economically in quantities, and does not require the exactness'of. proportions that is required of threaded members which have also been used for these purposes and to which I do not make claim. j

In Figs. 4 and 5 there is shown a spring- 1,2 attached at one end by a member 13, similar to the member 6, mounted on a project-ion 14 attached to a support 15. A smaller spring 16 has one end threaded through a hole 17 in aplate `18 mounted i against a support 17 through and `by which the spring 16 is guided, said plate beingI indented as vshown at 19, and swaged` outwardly as shown at 20, thereby all'ording means for guiding and holding the coils of the spring in proper position.` The plate 18 has a polygona head 21 formed by the upturned edges of said pla/te and constituting means for manual or instrumental engagement' therewith. The spring 12 yencircles a tubular member 22 having a flange 23 arranged helically at one end land embraced between the coils ofthe spring in the manner of being screwed therein. The smaller spring 16 extends into the spring 12 and into the tubular member 22 at the inner endA of which is an internal flange 24,

-the spring in position.

arranged helically to conform the spirals of the spring 16, an with suiicient space 25 between its two ends to admit a spring coil. Said spring is threaded through the space 25 and the flange 24 holds The flange 23 is polygonal and projects beyond the surfacel of the spring 12, constituting means for engagement so that both springs may be simultaneously tensioned by rotation of the member 22. This construction provides a yielding connection of increasing resistance as generally to the connected vparts are moved apart. This can be effected by .using one spring of less parting from the principle of the invention.

I do not restrict myself to identical features of construction or uses, but

What I claim and desire to secure by. Letters Patent is- 1. A spring, a second spring forming a continuation of saidv first-named spring, Va device encircling a part of one of said Springs operable to vary the. combined length ot said two springs, andan adjustable attaching device connected to one of said two springs, substantially as specified.

2. A spring, 'a second'spring, and an adjustable member iiicased within one of said springs connecting said two springs together, whereby they are formed into a connected series which is longer than either ofv said springs alone, substantially as specified.

3. A spring, a secondl spring extending into said first-named spring, supports for the outer ends of saidv two springs, and adtogether.

4. Actuating vmeans comprising two springs one of which extends into the other, and an element for adjusting the tension of said' two springs while they are in operative position.

5. Actuating means comprising two springs one of which extends into the other,

just-able means connecting said two springs an element operable to adjust the tension ofl and a notch opening into said hole, a tubula`r member incasing a part of said spring and engaging with the coils thereof, vand a polygonal portion on said tubular member, substantial y as speciied.

8. The combination with av helical spring,-

of a tubular member incasing a part of said `spring, a flange closing a relatively large portion of said tubular member and having a notch or open space through which the spring is threaded, anda support against which said tubular member is revolubly mounted, substantially as specified.

9. A spring tensioning device oomprisin In testimony whereof I have hereunto set a tubular portion, an internal flange 1n sai my hand and axed my signature this '22 10 tubllar porion alrrangeddhelically and elxday of August, 1908. ten in a re ative great istance inward y, l an extrnal Hangeyon s'aid tubular portion, y BIRNEY- DYSART and a support constituting a. bearing engag- In presence ofing with said external Bange, substantial y FRANKLIN Mmmm, as specified. 4 J. D. RIPPEY. 

